An aging population means the portion of workers nearing retirement rose significantly between 2001 and 2006, StatsCan says.
Some observers predict this could lead to staffing shortages, as the number of younger workers entering the job market is outstripped by retirees.
What solutions would you propose to address this issue?
Looming labour shortage (CP video)
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/canada?c鈥?/a>
Canadian workforce greying: StatsCan
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/080304/ca鈥?/a>
Overview of workforce census (CBC video)
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/canada?c鈥?/a>
Labour landscape changes (CP video)
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/canada?c鈥?/a>
Jobs for pre-retirees
http://yahoo.workopolis.com/yahoo.aspx?a鈥?/a>|||there are a lot of young people out there not working, put them to work, dont look at unempolyment numbers look at welfare, i know 13 people who live near me, who are under 40, and able to work but are too bloody lazy to work, they think they are worth more than they are, and welfare is keeping them, i'm not talking seasonal workers because they are needed, there are a number of jobs that have to have seasonal workers, i'm talking about those that have not worked in three of four years or more because wefare gives them enough to live on and then they go to the woods and make a bit of extra cash, don't try to keep the guy who is 65 still working let him have a retirement, he has worked for it, get the lazy bums working.|||What a load of bullshit. The job market sucks. HR departments of every company are swamped with resumes. Salaries and wages in the private sector are low. Every Canadian business wants to send every Canadian job to China. These stories are just bullshit that the Canadian business lobby makes up to get the federal government to flood the job market with immigrants.|||This is government propaganda and a bunch of lies. Labour shortages are perhaps in Fort McMurray, AB.
Where are these shortages in Ontario or GTA area?
My wife spent 2 years in a college at age of 40, got Pharmacy Technician diploma and spent 3 years working part time jobs in retail pharmacy stores. Finally got permanent position for less 15$/h.
I am in IT and the only feeling, me and me peers have is that we will not be able to find another permanent jobs if we get laid off. And most of us have University Degree in computers.
Disgusting propaganda.|||It's about time. Us Gen-Xers need a turn to establish our skills and become leaders in our fields of study. It's hard to compete with established baby boomers in meaningful jobs, as they have more experience and are generally established in their niches. So no need to worry, please retire, Canada is in good hands and we'll figure out a way to manage.|||I'm just glad there will be jobs for us boomers down the road. I don't have a pension to retire on and have no choice but to work for the rest of my life. So it's nice to know that I will be able to earn a living to feed myself and put a roof over my head.|||We need to start training the younger workforce properly using some of the older methods such as a proper apprenticeship and not these 6 month magic cures that they came up with at community colleges. Also should we need to continue taking in immigrants lets ensure that they can speak our language rather than having to spend money to learn them the languages of our country and subsidizing them whilst doing so. To many people see Canada as the land of golden opportunity which does not necessarily include full time work in the work force.|||What job shortage? We've been hearing about it for years. Employers wants people already experienced, the want to steal the concurrence's employees. I've been intensively looking for a Transportation or International job for over a year now. They're telling me I doesn't have enough experience, but no one wants to give me a chance. I'm looking for a junior position. I'm perfectly bilingual and knows many softwares, I have an undergraduate college diploma in Transportation Logistics, although I've been told many employers considers it an incomplete diploma. I've paid for a course in International Commerce, I'm willing to learn Spanish too and pay for the course myself. Still no offer. I'm willing to work weekends or evenings too. Now I'm on Welfare and some months I can barely afford the bus fare. I know many people able and willing to work who aren't hired because of a lack of experience or some other stupid excuses. So when I hear about the supposed "labor shortage", it pains me.|||I think if I hear one more "over-qualified" response as a result of a job interview I will just spit! It is interesting that employers are expecting the world in skill set, but because I am in my Fifties, I am overqualified. Sounds like age discrimination to me.
There are a lot of people who are available and willing to work and expect only a livable wage. The employers are just looking for people who are cheap and cheerful and still live with their parents. Canadian employers are being just too picky!|||a- Education!
Education! and more
Education!
b- Incentives for larger families
c- Expedited process for "qualified" inmigrants!
d- Expedited process for new inmigrant's qualifications to be homologated!
Enjoy, the New Canada!|||Allow those persons who are at today's retirement age of 55ish but who still wish to continue working or to get into the workforce after raising families/time off, to train/educate at a cheaper cost than "new" students,etc.
Have universities/colleges (many of whom are down in numbers) offer degrees that factor in *life experiences (within reason) along with other required courses.
Have post-secondary institutions set time (evenings, weekends) for adult education with modified courses that move at a faster rate due to the *above.|||I don't see particular problem in an open labour market. It is actually about time the baby boomers stop saturating the market and let in fresh blood. Baby boomers have, the majority, acummulated a large amount of debt and as a result have not been able to retire at a normal age. Baby boomers also often enough blame everyone else, generational, race, cultures, welfare etc. for the problems they have themselves created for themselves. There is no black and white solution here and the "problem" can only benefit labour.|||If Canadians dont like it
then they should leave,
i am sick of Canada and its stupid laws. i leaving Canada and going back to Quebec to cut down Jackpine trees.|||There are a few areas that Canada can improve upon to increase the work force...
1) More incentives for procreation (or place higher taxes on condoms.) By encouraging larger families we can keep up with the aging population.
2) Cancel welfare, EI, and other social programs (including aborigional programs) with the exception of people with disabilities. Have the sloths of society go out and get their hands dirty. Canadian society is becoming increasingly lethargic and it wouldn't hurt to get some of these people wheened off the public purse.
3) Open immigration for skilled trades and workers. We are doing good for occupations requiring higher education, but we are being selective when it comes to journeymen from European countries.
4) Use our growing prison population to undertake some of the more medial jobs, such as sidewalk cleaning, picking trash, or farm labour. We could give extra credit for time served on a work farm, plus when they get out they have skills at hand to go out and get a job, rather than committing another crime to go back to getting free room and board (it does happen more often then we think).|||Very valid question. An aging population and labour shortage is looming at the same time Aboriginals are the fastest growing demographic in Canada.
Capitalize on this human resource. The First Nations (including Metis %26amp; Inuit) need increased accessibility to programs which will foster employability. Set as many up for success as possible so they can make further positive contributions within their own communities and a society they are part of.
Increase Education Grants to assist with Tuition %26amp; Living Costs so attending College/University is more economically viable. Offer better incentives to all Youth who require education and training. Open more doors to the Semi-retired/soon to Retire who are experienced workers and can offer expertise and job coaching on a part-time basis or full time for another few years. Value their knowledge and "sweeten the pot" so remaining in the labour force is an attractive option.|||Two solutions to be used in tandem: We need to start putting a lot more effort into using automation and process improvement, so as to decrease the overall need for workers in general to match the decline in available staffing. However, since human thinking will also become a key component to discovering improvements in the jobs, we will also need to put more effort into training programs and job-specific education so that we are able to make good use of the new workers. (New workers being immigrants or young adults entering the workforce.)
Ex. Instead of having 3 people manufacturing a widget, you find ways to perform the same job with 1 person using better automation and process improvement. The primary duty of the remaining worker then becomes observation, control and improvement of the process instead of repeating menial tasks. You also provide better training for the one person so they can be proficient in this and independent of management.
In the end, you have a smarter, smaller workforce who rely less on direct supervision (freeing up supervisors) and who have more fulfilling jobs (able to improve their own areas) and perform their function for less overall cost to the business as there are fewer workers who are always finding better ways of doing their tasks.|||The predicted shortage of qualified workers can be addressed by the following measures :
1. Older workers should be treated as assets, not people who should be sent to the retirement home. We are losing out on a wealth of experience that can be passed on to younger workers. By being more flexible in work schedules, paying a salary that reflects their value, and recognizing them as an asset, many valuable older workers will remain in the workforce.
2. Many of the types of jobs that go unfilled do not pay a decent salary, lack benefits, and demand work schedules that are detrimental to family life. Companies need to step up to the plate and offer attractive work opportunities. There are many companies that never have a shortage of employees, as a matter of fact, they are turning away applicants, while others are always complaining that there is a shortage of workers. The differences are usually the above, pay, benefits, and a flexible work schedule.
3. Subsidize Canadian Workers. Some companies are spending large amounts of money recruiting employees from overseas. They subsidize their travel, find them housing, pay excellent salaries, and offer training programs to acclimatize to living in Canada. Those same opportuities and benefits are not being offered to workers in Canada. Treat Canadian workers the same way and you can improve an existing workforce with less cost.
4.Training, Training, and Re-Training. If you want better employees, in this changing economy, companies have to continually train their staff. Failure to do so, leaves companies without the expertise they need.
5. Stop Shipping Jobs Overseas. The good jobs will allways be filled. If you strip the economy of the best jobs, and leave the low paying ones behind, you will have a shortage of workers willing to take those jobs. When you hear a company or an industry say they cannot get workers, what they are really saying is "we cannot attract workers to take these jobs for the low pay we offer, the lack of benefits, and the poor working conditions" Fix those three components and the jobs will be filled. Just because someone in another part of the world will take the jobs under those conditions, does not mean we should expect Canadians to do so. As someone said, "We are better than that"
The universities in Canada have had a tremendous increase in students. The obvious reason is young people realize that an education (training) is very important, but it also reflects that many students are returning to school rather than take the poor pay that is offered to many university graduates. It used to be that a University degree guaranteed a good job, now a secondary degree is required. Why, many good jobs are out-sourced to other countries or they are taken by workers from other countries that are willing to work for less.
I would pit Canadian workers against anyone in the world for expertise, hard work, and productivity. We should expect them to compete against workers on salary alone. "We are better than that"|||I don't think people are clear on the scope of this problem; it is not a matter of lazy bums on welfare the labour shortage is calculated on the basis of the number of people in existence. Immigration can help but the services to deal with the immigrants aren't there now and we lack the resources to integrate immigrants into Canadian society. Also the birthrate is falling in almost all countries and is below replacement in many. we cannot count on immigration much longer as many of these countries are developing economically now and there are opportunities for their citizens there. Automation is a solution but it doesn't really adress the fundamental problem that the candian birthrate is low enough we would be getting considerably less numerous if it wasn't for immigartion. Although some people believe in reversing population/growth or "sustainable" it has already gotten to the point that further population growth has stopped except for immigration and the true problem is how we will stop Canadians from eventually getting old and dying off in dangerous numbers. There are good arguments for a smaller population in canada and the world but how to do so without major social problems is unclear nor with the current trend lead to anything but disaster.|||HISTORICALLY, NO ONE WANTED TO TRAIN APPRENTICES. NOW THEY WILL PAY FOR IT. THEY WILL HAVE TO TRAIN MORE READILY, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WITH HIGHER WAGES THAN THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY. THIS WAS WARNED OF AT LEAST TEN YEARS AGO AND NO BODY LISTENED.|||Get the native population off of welfare and government assistance and into the work place. This will also solve the substance abuse and crime problems afflicting the aboriginal peoples.|||Canada should be more flexible with their immigration policy to add to the diminishing workforce. In addition they should encourage rather than discriminate against newcomers in the country.|||A few things would be required. First, people need to see children as more than just an expense. Instead, they need to see them as something that can be extremely fulfilling. There needs to be less materialism. If family sizes are shrinking, why are new houses so huge? We need to be less concerned with what things we own and how many fancy trips we go on. We spoil ourselves why we work, and pay an arm and a leg for it. The result: parents thinking that kids are too expensive to have, educate, etc.|||labour shortage... really? maybe in some sectors that are booming, but such problems are as old as time. I have a PhD in biochemistry and will likely be forced out of Canada. The last job I applied for had 417 qualified applicants with PhDs. Canada does not favour their own and so the US, Asia and Europe are looking like riper markets now. There may be a labour shortage in some skilled trades, but that is less about the babyboom generation than it is about a social change in which such jobs are frowned upon as not requiring an education. Its a shame as such work is hard work, pays well and I know a lot of great people making good careers out of being trasdesmen.|||this is pure propaganda by the government. They also said about the shortage of IT people when there were plenty of workers in the field. The government exaggerated the shortage of IT people in order to justify importing thousands of immigrants from middle eastern countries. Hence the wages in IT field dropped like a ton of bricks. Now they are doing it again in order to drive down wages across all professions.|||retirees tax free first 20 hours. next 10 hours 25 per.cent. any more hrs then 30 then must pay a portion into health care plan or system. this will bring retirees back to work and boost economic activity.|||This is a situation that will only become more and more of an issue in the years to come. It is time the Canadian government started looking long term in its solutions. Immigration is an excellent idea, and I fully agree that we should stop putting barriers in place to those educated individuals who wish to work in their career of choice. I know it would help with the physician shortage we have here in the Maritimes. I also think the parental leave for new parents should be extended to encourage more people to have children. Also, take a hint from Quebec and give those new parents more financial incentive to have children. I know alot of people my age (30 years old) that have decided not to have children. Who is going to support the country in the future if the child-bearing population now sees it as too expensive to bring up a child? We need to look at the aging population issue more holistically.|||I agree with most others stating that a lot of people are not working who could be working.Toughen up even more on the Welfafe users who are not trying to get off the system. I knew of a woman who was collecting full Welfare for her and her 3kids and also working a job that paid her close to $2500.00 a month. Her parents knew and helped her out. I told her I bust my A** so you can collect more than i make.You then work and collect even more. I am going to give you 30days to stop or i'll report you for fraud.She stopped withing days. Far to many kids are doing nothing and getting life handed to them. I say if you old enough to work and aren't then make them work on community based projects;cleaning up the streets of garbabe. Vancouver is crying out for more Labourers in all industries as it ramps up for the Olympics.They have been in need of workers since before then.It pays good money and it also shows you a result at the end of the day.Something you can look back on years from now ans tell your kids. I used to look to socety to take careof me.One day i grew up and took responsibility for myself and if you look arund i can point out to you some of the buildings i worked on. I know my uncle used to do that with his kids.He worked on a lot of buildings in and around Vancouver and he was proud fo the work he did.Kids now spend to much time thinking they are going to get rich doing nothing. It takes a lot of hard woork to make life for yourself today. A friend of mine once said work is supposed to be a little bit hard at times....otherwise it would be called PLAY.|||A modest proposal: Offer boomers tax breaks to euthanize themselves. No need for the rest of us to support a graying drain on our resources, and the sudden transfer of inheritances will both boost government tax revenues and free the rest of us to enjoy our young lives, which is what boosting productivity is supposed to result in (rather than the longer hours we are all working). Retirement is wasted on the elderly after all.|||The problem is there is too many old farts still in the workforce making it hard for younger people to get better paying jobs or any jobs at all. The problem will solve itself as soon as we get the old farts out of the job market and have them stop hogging all the good paying jobs.
I mean, when you have people over 60 still working because they are bored and don't know what to do with themselves, well too F'in bad, get outta the workforce and let us younger people move up and have a life.|||How come there is a labour shortage when people are still desperate to find a job and many positions don't pay much? Besides, this idea about getting the "Canadian experiece" sounds very strange to me. It doesn't make nay sense. Wake up, Canada, you are a country of immigrants, how do you expect people to start working when they have just arrived and obviously don't have any "Canadian experiece"? This is also why most people don't get to do what they specialized and trained for in their country of origin. What a waste of skills and resources! If this shortage is real, maybe the hiring system should be changed. Start looking at people's resumes and give them a chance. There is a probation period, anyway. And anybody can be put to a test!|||Here's an idea, allow the people coming out of university and graduate level with no experience to get a job. I know of many university graduates who cannot get a job because of a lack of experience. I mean how are we suppose to earn this experience if no one gives us a chance. These companies, corporations, and institutes what someone who they do not need to train and will be just like the retiring individual just 30 years younger. Well thats next to impossible.|||the age may indicate that they are going to retire. however, many will not be able to afford to retire if they do not have a pension sufficient to live the lifestyle they are living today.
so not all retirees will retire.
as for immigrants, there has been a large amount of professional who emigrate from their countries to canada only to find that canada do not accept their profession. the association in canadian is one of protectionism and there is already a large wastage of unused talents and experience in canada that have been reduced to working in call centers because the professional syndicate prevents them from continuing the same status they were over in their country.
it's ironic because they were admitted as immigrants based on those professional designations. only that canada does not tell them they have to start at the beginning here. so many are working in restaurants, call centers and even as parking attendants or office cleaners.
as for welfare recipients. you cannot convert 3 generations of welfare recipients into hard working responsible taxpayers. why would they, when they can sit home in front of their giant screen tv and guzzle up beers then go for a drunken spree on their atv or suv.
moreover, the govt will not want to lose those votes. keeping them on welfare guarantees them to vote the existing party.
who wants to risk the new govt forcing able-bodied youths to work instead of collecting welfare.
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